222 PICTURING MIRACLES 



at the right level, or to accurately weigh out the 

 small changes of some of the elements, although my 

 scales could give the weight of the lead pencil marks 

 of my written name. My personal work was badly 

 handicapped also by the lack of available space. I 

 found that while my steep hillside garden gave a 

 wonderful view, room for tanks was very little, con- 

 sequently my recourse to tiers of two-quart, wide- 

 mouthed Mason jars. 



This soilless plant growth method had been 

 thought suitable only for experimental work until 

 Prof. W. Gericke demonstrated its practicability in 

 a larger way, using large, shallow tanks about six 

 inches deep and of a convenient size, covering them 

 with coarse wire netting, and that with excelsior, 

 straw, chaff or almost anything of that nature. Sup- 

 ports were provided for the plants. Into this sizeable 

 reservoir of water, he placed a bottle of Nutrient So- 

 lution, with two small holes (or tubes) through which 

 it seeps, to gradually supply the plant needs. This 

 bottle, holding about one pound of the four fertiliz- 

 ing agents and a very small quantity of the Solution 

 in which the other necessary elements were dissolved, 

 gave an excellent way of feeding during the period 

 of growth. 



Prof. Gericke has attained remarkable results with 

 this method; the growth and maturity of, notably, 



